Polonium
Polonium (钋, symbol Po) is chemical element number 84, a Post-Transition Metal in period 6, group 16 of the periodic table, with a standard atomic weight of about 209. Rare, highly radioactive metalloid. Discovered by Marie Curie, named for her native Poland.
Properties
| Atomic number | 84 |
|---|---|
| Symbol | Po |
| Atomic mass | 209 u |
| Category | Post-Transition Metal |
| Period | 6 |
| Group | 16 |
| Electron configuration | [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s² 6p⁴ |
| Electronegativity | 2 |
| Covalent radius | 140 pm |
| Density | 9.32 g/cm³ |
| Melting point | 527 K |
| Boiling point | 1235 K |
| Discovery | Marie & Pierre Curie, 1898 |
Overview
Rare, highly radioactive metalloid. Discovered by Marie Curie, named for her native Poland. Polonium (symbol Po) is chemical element number 84, sitting in period 6, group 16 of the periodic table and classed as a Post-Transition Metal. As a post-transition metal it is fairly soft with a low melting point, turning up in alloys, solders and coatings.
It has the configuration [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s² 6p⁴ and an electronegativity near 2; its 6 outer-shell electrons drive its bonding. Under standard conditions it exists as a solid; it melts near 527 K (253.9 °C), boils near 1235 K (961.9 °C), has a density around 9.32 g/cm³.
It is widely used in Energy / Batteries and Research. It is regarded as a high-hazard element, so handle it with appropriate care. It was first described by Marie & Pierre Curie in 1898. The periodic trends guide explains the underlying patterns.
Electron shells
Electrons per shell: 2 · 8 · 18 · 32 · 18 · 6
Main uses
- Energy / Batteries
- Research
Hazard
Compounds containing Polonium
No compounds in this knowledge base contain Polonium yet.
Data sources
Atomic mass uses IUPAC (CIAAW) standard atomic weights; the covalent radius is from Cordero et al. (2008). Verify on the RSC Periodic Table, PubChem and Wikipedia. Educational reference only.